Family
Visas
American immigration law
offers several visa alternatives for family members to reunite with their
relatives who are living or working in the United States. First, either a
U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident may petition for his or her
alien relative, an option explored below. Second, a U.S. citizen may
petition for his or her fiancé or
fiancée to enter the United States to enter the United States and apply
for permanent resident status. Finally, several visas exist for
dependents of nonimmigrant students, exchange visitors, and workers
temporarily in the United States.
Family Based Petitions
for Relatives:
If an immediate family
member (e.g., spouse, parent, or child) is a U.S. citizen or lawful
permanent resident, he or she must file a "one-step" application (I-130
Petition for Alien Relative and an I-485 Application for Adjustment of
Status) with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Poverty Guidelines
(Minimum income requirements for sponsors).
Please refer to the
LL.M. Law Group's immigration
consultation procedures to begin.
If the relative is not an
immediate family member, a "two-step" application must be filed. Qualifying
relatives are divided into four preferences for purposes of receiving an
available visa number:
First Preference:
U.S. citizen's unmarried adult sons and daughters
Second Preference:
Lawful permanent resident's spouse and adult unmarried sons and daughters
Third Preference:
U.S. citizen's married sons and daughters
Fourth Preference:
U.S. citizen's adult (at least 21 years old) siblings
Please refer to the
LL.M. Law Group's immigration
consultation procedures to begin.
The LL.M. Law Group
understands that obtaining a visa for the fiancé(e) or spouse of a U.S.
citizen to enter the United States can sometimes be difficult. Please click
on the link below to learn more about how the LL.M. Law Group can help.
The LL.M. Law Group
understands that obtaining a visa for your dependents to join you in the
United States can sometimes be difficult. Please click on one of the links
below to learn more about how the LL.M. Law Group can help your relatives
start traveling, and stop worrying.
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